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June 3
- MSI unveils one of the tiniest RTX 5060 GPUs yet — Single-fan Inspire RTX model measures just 145 x 120 x 45mm
➀ MSI launches the compact RTX 5060 8G Inspire ITX, featuring a single-fan design and dual-slot form factor (145 x 120 x 45mm) matching the reference 145W TGP；
➁ Despite its size, it offers identical core specs (3,840 GPU cores, 8GB GDDR7) as bulkier models, with OC variants reaching up to 2.527 GHz boost clock；
➂ Trade-offs include potential noise and thermal limitations compared to triple-fan designs, though retro Cyclone models offer similar performance in a slightly larger package.
- U.S. ban on EDA software hits Chinese tech companies hard — Xiaomi, Lenovo among affected
➀ U.S. bans EDA software exports to China, blocking updates for Synopsys/Cadence users;
➁ Xiaomi (3nm XRing 01 SoC), Lenovo and Bitmain's advanced chip designs impacted;
➂ Chinese EDA tools (Empyrean/Primarius/Semitronix) lag in cutting-edge nodes but advance in localization.
- U.S. extends China GPU tariff exemption until August 31 — Motherboards also listed in Section 301 exclusion
➀ The U.S. extends 25% tariffs on Chinese GPUs and motherboards to August 31, 2025, providing temporary relief for tech imports;
➀ Trump's fluctuating trade policies create market uncertainty, driving manufacturers to relocate production to Vietnam;
➂ Industry analysts criticize prolonged tariff delays for complicating supply chain planning and investment decisions.
- TSMC quashes UAE fab rumors, but says AI demand remains fierce in the face of tariff pressures
➀ TSMC CEO C.C. Wei refuted rumors about establishing a fab in the UAE and stated it doesn't fit the company's strategy due to lack of local clients;
➁ Despite acknowledging potential tariff impacts causing price hikes and demand fluctuations, Wei emphasized AI demand consistently outpaces supply;
➂ TSMC warned U.S. import tariffs could reduce demand for consumer electronics, affecting revenue and threatening its Arizona fab operations.
June 2
- $29.5 million home of Intel founder who invented Moore's Law goes up for sale – Gordon Moore's 9,000 sq ft home includes 25 acres of land, wine cellar, pool, and one very strict rule
➀ Gordon Moore’s 25-acre Mountain Meadow estate in the San Francisco Bay Area, featuring a 9,000 sq ft main house with luxury amenities, is listed for $29.5 million.
➁ The property is protected by a conservation covenant requiring new owners to maintain its historical and natural features, including redwood groves and gardens designed by renowned landscape architects.
➂ Moore, co-founder of Intel and creator of Moore’s Law, lived here for 30 years, with the estate originally purchased for $6 million in the 1990s and renovated at a cost exceeding $15 million.
- Chip news live: All the latest in the semiconductor industry
➀ Intel collaborates with SoftBank to develop stacked DRAM alternatives to HBM through joint venture Saimemory, targeting commercialization by 2030;
➁ NVIDIA unveils plans for a China-compliant B30 AI chip with multi-GPU scaling, circumventing export controls;
➂ TSMC explores building a UAE-based fab with US government support, mirroring its Arizona project scale.
- Nvidia reportedly developing new AI chip for China that meets export controls – B30 could include NVLink for creation of high-performance clusters
➀ NVIDIA is developing a Blackwell-based B30 AI chip for China with multi-GPU scaling, potentially using NVLink or PCIe 6.0 ConnectX-8 SuperNICs;
➁ The U.S. export ban on H20 chips impacted NVIDIA and AMD, with AMD facing $800 million losses from MI308 ban;
➂ Jensen Huang warned that U.S. export controls risk driving Chinese rivals like Huawei to innovate and set future global standards.
- Someone hacked an Apple Network Server to run DOOM – $10,000 IBM AIX unit from 1996 runs the game
➀ Tech enthusiast Cameron Kaiser successfully ported the iconic game DOOM to a 1996 Apple Network Server (ANS) running IBM's AIX OS through custom compilation and adjustments.
➁ The ANS, priced between $11k-$19k in the 90s with 64MB RAM and 2GB storage, required overcoming 8-bit color limitations and video hardware quirks to achieve playable performance.
➂ This retro hardware hack demonstrates the extreme adaptability of DOOM's codebase, with the project now open-sourced on GitHub for other vintage computing enthusiasts.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite variant rumored to have 50% more CPU cores — New chip with 18 cores and 64GB RAM is reportedly already in testing
➀ Qualcomm is reportedly testing the next-gen Snapdragon X2 Elite SoC with 18 Oryon V3 CPU cores and up to 64GB RAM, a 50% increase from its predecessor;
➁ The chip aims to compete with AMD and Intel's AI-enhanced laptop processors, with rumors suggesting potential desktop/server market expansion using advanced cooling solutions;
➂ Official announcements are expected at Snapdragon Summit 2025 in September, alongside new Windows-on-Arm device designs from partners.
April 1
- Some Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPUs are allegedly dying prematurely — over 100 cases documented based on user feedback
➀ Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPUs are experiencing premature failures, with over 100 cases documented based on user feedback;
➁ The majority of the failures are occurring on ASRock motherboards, with 82% of cases;
➂ The issue is suspected to be related to the X870 chipset, despite its premium design and components.
- Micron confirms memory price hikes as AI and data center demand surges
➀ Micron confirms plans to raise memory prices due to strong demand for DRAM and NAND flash.
➁ The price hike is expected to continue through 2025 and 2026.
➂ Factors include supply constraints and growing demand from AI, data centers, and consumer electronics.
March 31
- Seagate's 24TB IronWolf Pro is only $399 for World Backup Day
➀ Today's deal features Seagate's 24TB IronWolf Pro HDD at $399;
➁ The drive is designed for 24/7 operation and has a SATA III interface;
➂ It offers a 6 Gb/s transfer bandwidth and a 285 MB/s read/write speed.
- Acer Predator X32 X2 and X27U X1 gaming monitors debut with 240 Hz QD-OLED panels
➀ Acer has launched two new QD-OLED gaming monitors, the Predator X32 X2 and X27U X1;
➁ The X32 X2 features a 31.5-inch 4K panel with a 240 Hz refresh rate, while the X27U X1 has a 26.5-inch WQHD panel at the same refresh rate;
➂ Both monitors offer high contrast ratios, fast response times, and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro.
- PC enthusiast delidded a 9950X3D using fishing line and a clothes iron
➀ A PC enthusiast successfully delidded an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D using fishing line and a clothes iron;
➁ The process involved cutting the adhesive with fishing line and heating the IHS with a clothes iron;
➂ The enthusiast achieved a stable overclock of almost 6,000 MHz.
- CrystalMark Retro 2.0.0 brings retro benchmarking to systems from Windows 95 to Windows 11
➀ CrystalMark Retro 2.0.0 has been released, extending retro benchmarking to systems from Windows 95 to Windows 11.
➁ The update started a year ago, in response to user feedback.
➂ The benchmarking tool now supports Windows 95/98/Me and offers a bonus with the official benchmark score comparison site.
- Game developers urge Nvidia RTX 30 and 40 series owners rollback to December 2024 driver after recent RTX 50-centric release issues
➀ Nvidia RTX 40-series GPU owners are facing system stability issues with blue screen crashes and game-breaking bugs.
➁ Game developers are warning users against installing the latest 572.xx GeForce drivers due to performance and stability issues.
➂ Users are recommended to roll back to the older 566.36 driver from December 2024 for stability.
- World Backup Day: A reminder to protect against data loss
➀ Today marks World Backup Day, a day to remind everyone to regularly back up their important data to prevent data loss;
➁ The article highlights various storage deals available during the Amazon Big Spring Sale, including SSDs, HDDs, and portable storage options;
➂ It provides details on specific deals, such as the Samsung 990 Pro 4TB SSD and Seagate IronWolf Pro 24TB HDD, along with their original and discounted prices.
- Can Earthquake in Myanmar disrupt PC hardware production? Manufacturers are checking out
➀ A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, potentially affecting PC hardware production in neighboring countries;
➁ Thai and Vietnamese manufacturing sites for major tech companies are being assessed for damage and supply disruptions;
➂ Taiwanese tech companies operating in Thailand report no major damage or injuries, with some experiencing temporary shutdowns and evacuations.
March 29
- How to use the Warp AI-enabled terminal for Windows or Linux
➀ Introducing Warp, an AI-enabled terminal app for Windows and Linux;
➁ Learn to install and use Warp to create code and automate tasks;
➂ Explore how Warp can assist in coding, from simple commands to complex applications.
- Nvidia Breakfast Bytes are now available at Denny's if you want to experience the 'breakfast of geniuses'
➀ Nvidia has launched a limited edition breakfast item at Denny's;
➁ The 'Nvidia Breakfast Bytes' includes pork sausage, pancakes, and syrup;
➂ This promotion is part of Nvidia's marketing efforts and is available until May 13, 2025.
March 28
- Hollyland Lark M2 Wireless Lavalier Microphone drops to a low price for Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2025
➀ The Hollyland Lark M2 Wireless Lavalier Microphone is currently on sale at Amazon for $76, down from its original price of $92.
➁ The microphone kit includes a charging case, two microphones, and a receiver, with compatibility options for various devices.
➂ The reviewer purchased the USB Type-C version for use with their Android phone and for presentations, praising its ease of use and high-quality audio.
- Crucial Pro Overclocking DDR5-6400 C38 2x16GB Review: Deceitfully Fast
➀ The Crucial Pro Overclocking DDR5-6400 C38 offers excellent performance for both Intel and AMD CPUs.
➁ The memory kit supports Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO, and has a low-profile design.
➂ While the kit performs well in application workloads, its gaming performance is average, and it has limited overclocking capabilities.
- Intel's board gets industry-focused as three directors will not seek re-election — badly needed shift to deeper tech experience
➀ Intel has announced that three members of its board of directors will not seek reelection, shifting the board's focus to a more high-tech industry-oriented one.
➁ The departing directors have backgrounds in healthcare and academia, and their departure is seen as a move towards deeper tech expertise.
➂ The new board composition includes a stronger emphasis on industry-specific knowledge, which may help Intel regain its competitive edge.
- China's AI data center boom goes bust: Rush leaves billions of dollars in idle infrastructure
➀ China's AI data center expansion in 2023-2024 has led to significant underutilization of billions of dollars in infrastructure;
➁ Rushed projects resulted in poor planning and technical irrelevance;
➂ Market shift towards inference workloads has reduced demand for high-end GPUs, leading to a decrease in rental prices.
March 27
- More 3D Printing Leaks: Is a New Tool Changer on the Horizon?
➀ Leaked photos suggest a new collaboration between 3D printer manufacturer Snapmaker and laser company Xtool.
➁ Both companies have made multifunctional devices and standalone lasers, with Snapmaker's latest 3D printer being the Snapmaker Artisan.
➂ The leaked tool changer appears to be a four-color tool changer with a bed size similar to the Bambu Lab X1C.
- Blower-style RTX 4090 48GB teardown reveals dual-sided memory configuration — PCB design echoes the RTX 3090
➀ The teardown of a blower-style RTX 4090 48GB reveals a dual-sided memory configuration similar to the RTX 3090.
➁ The GPU is linked to Chinese mini-PC/GPU manufacturer Peladin, with a well-designed PCB and robust VRMs.
➂ The RTX 4090 features GDDR6X memory, faster but hotter than GDDR6.
- Raspberry Pi Pico fightstick randomly mashes buttons for fighting game combos
➀ A Raspberry Pi Pico-powered fightstick adds a new twist to the classic fightstick by incorporating additional buttons.
➁ The fightstick, designed by Goblinhan Yıkan, automates button mashing for fighting game combos, enhancing the gaming experience.
➂ The project uses a Raspberry Pi Pico as the main controller, offering GPIO support and HID functionality.
- AMD's non-X3D Ryzen 9 9950X processor hits an all-time low in Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2025
➀ AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X has reached an all-time low price of $532 during Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2025;
➁ The processor offers 16 cores and 32 threads with a combined L2/L3 cache of 80MB and a TDP of 170W;
➂ It is suitable for multi-core and multi-threaded workloads, though it may not be the best choice for gaming.
- Mass production of 'world's first' color e-paper display over 30-inches begins
➀ Guangzhou Aoyi Electronic Technology and Shenzhen Jin Yatai Technology have begun mass production of a 31.2-inch color e-paper display.
➁ The display is said to overcome traditional e-paper limitations with improved refresh rates and response times.
➂ The technology is expected to find applications in digital signage and public information screens.
- China's SiCarrier challenges U.S. and EU with full-spectrum of chipmaking equipment — Huawei-linked firm makes an impressive debut
➀ Chinese chipmakers are gradually shifting production to domestically-made tools to support the local wafer fab equipment ecosystem and reduce reliance on foreign tools.
➁ SiCarrier Technologies, a Huawei-linked startup, has revealed a comprehensive catalog of wafer processing tools at Semicon China.
➂ SiCarrier is working on advanced process nodes and future advanced nodes, and has partnerships with Huawei for proprietary production flows.